. and we just hadanelection. andelectionshaveconsequences, alex. and i think the congressman is absolutely right that we are now drifting toward a parliamentary system. but we don't have a parliamentary system. we have a different system. and in our system the results of the election are meaningful. and the results of this election should suggest to democrats and republicans that the president, unless there is some egregious problem, deserves to have his own choices in government. >> alex, let me just say, the senate has the responsibility to advise and consent. and given the filibuster rules you have to find five republicans, and he'll find out quickly who his friends are. people forget that this election, the republicans held the house. although institutionally they have a majority there, given voting rights and the way the districts are created, the president's got to come to grips with that and somehow both sides are going to find their way out of this. it's going to be just two years of being in the ring, exchanging punches. >> but ultimately, jonathan, your take on chuc

filing paperwork with thefederalelectioncommissionthis week. meanwhile, politoco reports a top aide to democratic senator frank lawsuit enberg called booker "self-absorbed" accusing the mayor of bee trying the democratic party by skipping a run against republican governor chris christie. >>> well, joining me right now we have msnbc contributing and managing editor joy an reid and white house reporter for the "washington post." and with a hello to both of you, david i'm going to go up to you first. let's go to afghanistan with the president accelerating the withdrawal of troops right now. what did we learn from that news conference as to a timeline? >> well, alex, it was very interesting. the words that the president used he kept saying several times not only is the war for americans going to come to an end by the end of 2014, which we all knew, but as soon as this spring america is going to allow the afghan forces around the country to take the lead in securing their own nation. that's moved up the timetable by a few months. what that seems to signal was we may be able to remove the

. tweeting last week on the bill is to "repeal obama care in its xwir entirety." is thelastelectionresonatingat all with congressman bachmann? >> this is congresswoman bachmann advancing her views in a way that will go absolutely no where. zero prospect that will happen. but, again, when you have people in districts who are reflecting the most extreme elements in their own party, because primaries are where they face the greatest potential risk, this is what you get. and, you know, michele bachmann made her name as somebody on the right wing of the republican party who was especially aggressive and in your face to democrats and to president obama in particular, she certainly wants to maintain that reputation, and she is not going to get anywhere legislatively with this, but this doesn't -- given who she, what her identity is, probably doesn't hurt her that much politically. >> overall, john, is this a sign that we're off to a certain kind of start? did the 113th congress be as unproductive as 112th was? >> well, we've never left a position, alex, of permanent warfare between two p